Local schools to receive $7.5 million from state for achievement

In this 2012 file photo, Golden Gate High School junior Nicole Dwyer, 16, wears a t-shirt celebrating education in English teacher Rebecca Witt's AICE English Language class on Friday, Sept. 7, 2012, in Naples. The Collier County School District is now offering Advanced International Certificate of Education, or AICE, classes to all area high school students after piloting the program at a few schools. Students completing the classes and subsequent testing through University of Cambridge will receive college credit that is recognized internationally.

Naples Daily News

Southwest Florida school districts are receiving about $7.5 million from the state today. The money is part of more than $130 million being awarded to recognize achievement in the state’s school grading system.

Gov. Rick Scott announced Monday that $134 million of School Recognition Program dollars will be shared among nearly 1,700 schools, which will use the money to award employee bonuses, purchase school equipment or hire temporary staff. The Collier County School District will receive about $2.5 million; the Lee County School District, $3.9 million. Regionally, Desoto, Hendry and Glades county schools are also receiving money.

Each school recognized gets $125 per student, up from the $93 per student awarded last year. Schools receiving the reward earned an A, went up a grade level or maintained an improved grade. Alternative schools ranked as “improving” also receive the funding.

School grades are based largely on student performance on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.

“Schools that demonstrate improved performance for students should be rewarded for their hard work,” Scott said in a prepared statement.

Collier schools Superintendent Kamela Patton applauded the awards and the district for its performance in the school grading system.

“They truly believe in rewarding good schools,” she said of state officials. “The good thing about these funds is they do not limit them to only A schools.”

Schools receiving the funding are required to create spending plans for the money, which under state law can only be used for bonuses, equipment or temporary staff. Patton said Collier schools often use it to reward employees.

The state is distributing the funding to districts today, Florida Department of Education spokeswoman Cheryl Etters said. Districts will then allocate that funding to individual schools.

Thirty-three schools in Collier County and 46 in Lee County qualified for the rewards. Those numbers include charter schools.